214 children’s homes lack basic facilities; Maharashtra revokes their registrations

State women and child development (WCD) department took the decision on Friday

The Maharashtra government has decided to shut down 214 children’s homes with immediate effect. The state decided to cancel their registrations over failure to meet basic facilities prescribed under the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act. State women and child development (WCD) department took the decision on Friday.

The WCD department had found 214 children’s homes in the ‘C’ and ‘D’ categories with lowest marks based on basic facilities provided by them. (Representational photo/AP)

The list includes two children’s homes from Mumbai — Children’s Aid Society, Mankhurd and Anjuman-E-Mufidul Yatama, Madanpura. The government has also barred them from taking new admissions, while children living at the shelter will now be shifted to other children’s homes.

The decision was taken following an inspection conducted two years ago by the WCD department to check the living conditions of 963 children’s homes affiliated with the state.

“It was found that there was lack of basic facilities needed to run a children’s home,” said Vinita Singhal, secretary WCD department.

The department had found 214 children’s homes in the ‘C’ and ‘D’ categories with lowest marks based on basic facilities provided by them. The matter was challenged before the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court after the state government first decided to cancel registration of these children’s homes.

The state government gives Rs900 per month per child to these homes. Besides, the non-governmental organization (NGO) running them have to spend 10% of the operational cost. The state government also runs 43 children’s homes.

Children’s homes should have basic amenities such as boarding, lodging, bathing and toilet. They are also expected to take care of basic needs such as food, clothing, health care, nutrition and additional facilities for education, vocational training and recreation, according to the JJ Act.

Only 476 children’s homes found place in ‘A’ category during the inspection. The department has also decided to give one more chance to 273 homes that fell in ‘B’ category, so that living conditions are improved.